Sewing needle



J. WAGNER SEWING NEEDLE Nov. 24, 1931.

Filed Sept. 24, 1930 INVENTOR if ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 24, 1931 "PATENT OFFICE JOHN WAGNER, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN SEWING- NEEDLE Application filed September 24, 1930. Serial No. 484,043.

Ths invention relates to improvements in sewing needles, and more particularly to a jointed needle.

I The ordinary sewingneedle, in being passed through a resistive fabric, must be pressed against, on the end portion opposite the pointed end, and to protect the finger of the wearer, which finger is used during the forcing or pressing of the needle, thimbles are ordinarily employed. Many persons, however, object to using a thimble because of its being uncomfortable or rendering use of the hand or finger awkward. If, however, a thimble is not used in connect-ion with sewing with the ordinary needle, the users hand or fingers are apt to become pricked or sore.

It is, therefore, the primary object of the present invention to provide a sewing needle of such construction that it may be readily used in sewing through resistive fabrics without the necessity of the employment of a thimble by the sewer, and permitting direct finger pressure against a needle portion opposite the pointed end portion of the needle without danger of the unguarded finger being pricked or hurt.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sewing needle having a jointed section to which the sewing thread is attached,

0 said jointed section being arranged to nor mally extend longitudinally with respect to the needle shank for sewing operations, but movable to a right-angular position with respec-t to the needle shank to permit the direct application of pressure thereto.

A further object of the invention is to provide a jointed sewing needle which is of very simple construction, is strong and durable, and is well adapted for the purposes described.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the improved jointed sewing needle and its parts and combinations as set forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawings in which the same reference characters indicate the same parts in all of the views:

Fig. 1 is a side view of the improved jointed sewing needle on an enlarged scale with portion broken away and in section to show a constructional detail;

Fig. 2 is a front View of the jointed sewing needle on an enlarged scale; and

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 1 only showing the jointed section disposed at right angles to the main needle portion to permit pressure thereagainst.

- Referring now more particularly to the drawings it will appear that the needle comprises an elongated shank 5 formed of steel. or other hard metal, and the inner end portion of said needle shank is tapered and pointed as at 5. The opposite end portion of the needle shank, designated by the numeral 6, is somewhat flattened and is provided with a slot or eye 7 extending therethrough. By particular reference to Figs. 1 and 3 it will appear that one end portion or entrance to the slot is enlarged as at 7 Cooperating with the needle shank 5 is a jointedly attached or outer needle section 8 and the inner end portion of said needle section 8 is provided with a hooked or looped portion 9 which is pivotally extended through the slot or eye 7 of the main shank 5. It will be noted that the end of said hooked or looped portion is enlarged or somewhat eccentric to form a cam-like surface as indicated at 9 and the result of said enlarged portion 9 together with the peculiarly shaped eye or slot 7 is such that the outer needle section 8 may be hinged or pivoted, with respect to the main shank 5 in one plane to a right-angular position with respect to the shank 5, as shown in Fig. 3, but movement beyond said right-angular position is prevented due to the binding engagement between the enlarged portion 9 of the hooked or looped portion 9 and the reduced portion of the eye or slot 7. The outer or free end portion of the needle section 8 is provided with an eye 10 through which sewing thread 11 is passed in the ordinary manner.

During sewing operations the section 8 of the needle should be disposed so as to'extend substantially longitudinally of the main needle shank 5 and when the needle is passed through a fabric, the section 8, carrying the thread 11, will follow the needle shank 5 through the fabric. If, however, it is necessary to press against the needle to assist in forcing it through the fabric, it is merely necessary to hinge or pivot the section 8 from its longitudinal position to the position shown in Fig. 3 at right angles to the shank 5. As the section 8 is prevented from pivoting beyond said right-angularposition and is maintained rigidly in said position, any amount of pressure may be applied by a finger directly against any portion of the needle section 8, which pressure will be transmitted to the shank 5 to force it through the fabric, and then when the needle is pulled the remaining distance through the fabric the section-8 can be returned to its normal'longitudinal position. Pressure-applied to thencedle section 8 in .theposition shown in Fig. 3 will not in anyway inconvenience the'sewer or cause injury or soreness to his finger, as the finger will notbe applied toa pointed orreduced end portion but will be applied to a side portion of the section 8.

From the foregoing description it will be seenthat the improved jointed sewing needle is both simple and'novel and is well adapted for the purposes set forth.

WVhat I claim as my invention is:

. 1. VA needle, comprising a shank having'a pointed end portion, and a rigid section hingedly attached to the end portion ofthe shank opposite its pointed end .portion and movable .from a position substantially Ion-- gitudinal of the shank to a position transverse to the shank.

2. Aneedle, comprising a shankhaving a pointed end portion, and a rigid section hingedly attached tothe end portion ofthe shank opposite its pointed end portion and movable from a position substantially longitudinal ofithe shank'to a pressure receiving, supported position transverse'to the shank.

3. Aneedle, comprising a shank having a pointed end portion, .and a rigid section i hingedly attached to the opposite end portion of the shank and movable from an extended position longitudinally of the shank to aposition substantially at right angles to the-shank.

4. A needle, comprising a shank having a pointed end portion, and a rigid section hingedly attached to the opposite end portion of-the shank and movable from an extended positionlongitudinally of the shank to a position substantially at right angles to the shank, there being a thread receiving eye in theouter end portion of said section.

*5. A needle, comprising a shank'having a pointed end portion, a rigid section hingedly attached to the opposite end portion ofthe shank, and means for limiting the hinging movementof said section with respect to the shank.

.A needle, comprising a shankhaving a pointed end portion, a rigid section hingedly attached to the opposite end portion of the shank and normally extending longitudinally of the shank but movable to angular positions with respect to the shank, and means for limiting the angula-rity of the movement of said section with respect to the shank.

7. A needle, comprising a shank having a pointed end portion, a rigid section hingedly attached to the opposite end portion of the shank and normally extending longitudinally of the shank'but'movable to angular posito bindinglyengagein saidopening in-one position to limit-the movement of saidsection with respect'to the-shankgthe outer end portion of said :section being formed 'withn thread .receiving eye. i

In testimony whereof, I afli-x mysi'gnature.

JOHN AGN 'ER. 

